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"The familiar "Asperger's," along with some similar disorders, will be lumped together under autism spectrum disorder, "to help more accurately and consistently diagnose children with autism," the APA said in a statement.

Other changes include entries for new disorders such as "hoarding disorder" or "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD)," the latter characterized by abnormally bad and frequent temper tantrums. "Dyslexia" and other learning disorders that some feared would be removed from the manual, remained."

Do you know anyone previously diagnosed with Aspergers? Do you fear that these changes will affect their care?

Wouldn't people with Asperger's just go by the more general name of being autistic rather than being dropped from care? As far as I have always been told, Aspergers is a highly functioning form of autism. I personally am not well versed on the subject, (sorry if I made a huge blunder somewhere), but it is why I am asking.

In my state (I'm not sure if it is a national thing or not), Some of the children dx with Asperger's Syndrome have it on their medical record as a different diagnostic code than Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are programs and services here that do not cover the diagnostic code for Asperger's but do for Autism. I'm hoping that this will allow everyone to be universal and using the Autism Spectrum coding that will get them qualified for the services.

At one point some families were worried about the individuals with Asperger's Syndrom not meeting the new criteria and being kicked completely off the Spectrum. Is that no longer what it looks like?

My son is severe so it doesn't look like anything will change for him, but I'm curious about the ones who are higher functioning which is where my youngest may fall.

Just before school started this year, my 9 year old son was diagnosed with Asperger's and ADHD. While I'm still learning about how to help him best, I don't see how lumping him together with other Autism Spectrum children (we have several neighbors that are barely communicative) is going to help him at all.

Seems to me that this will hinder much needed help, not make it easier to get.

thank god. its about time. i honestly believe that this will affect care for the better. because children with aspergers will be DX'd with high functioning autism instead. and will receive DDD services and other services that they did not qualify for before.

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